Snow causes crashes around Branson, death of Kimberling City man

Feb. 3, 2014

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Several roads around Taney and Stone counties are still covered in snow, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation, and officials say the storm caused one death.

According to Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, an 89-year-old man died after his car got stuck on Hilltop Drive.

A release from the fire district said the man was given a ride by a passerby on a four wheeler, but when they arrived at the man’s home, the elderly man fell to the ground and emergency crews were unable to revive him.

Kimberling City police have not yet identified the man.

Between 2 and 4 inches of snow fell around the Branson area yesterday, leading to several traffic crashes and the closure of schools today.

Meteorologist Andy Foster with the National Weather Service in Springfield said there was no ice in the area, only snow, but it still made roads slick, officials said.

Three crashes were reported in Taney County and another in Stone, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, though most resulted in only minor injuries.

One exception was a pedestrian injury that occurred on Missouri 76 east of Kirbyville, in which a man was hit by a car while trying to pull his car from a ditch.

According to the patrol, Austin Moore, 28, of Kirbyville, had attached a tow rope to his car and was pulling the car out when he was struck by an eastbound vehicle driven by Richard L. Voliva, 41, of Forsyth.

Moore was taken by ambulance to Cox Branson with serious injuries, according to the report.

Fire district personnel in the area said roads were improving late Sunday, but many roads are still covered with another round of snow expected Tuesday.

This time the storm is expected to impact Springfield, as well.

Foster said a mix of snow and sleet is expected to start falling during the day, with heavier amounts north of Interstate 44, where 2 to 5 inches of snow is possible.

Areas south of the interstate are likely to see 1 to 2 inches of snow mixed with light sleet.

“One thing people need to plan for tomorrow is the drive home from work or school is probably going to be more difficult than the morning drive,” he said. “It’s going to get worse as the day goes on.”